A Ki$$ From and For the W3C

I think this is really promising. The WhatWG material will undoubtedly be the prime inputs for consideration. It would be nice if the WG had its minutes published in the open, given the public interest.

Thanks for your input, Rick! I most certainly hope your thoughts regarding the work of the WHATWG are exactly how things play out.

[Original Post]
I don't always have the kindest things to say both to and about the W3C, often criticizing them for their closed door, closed ear policy when it comes to listening to what the developers in whom use their technologies have to say on any given matter.

http://www.w3.org/ -- 7 March 2007 -- Recognizing the importance of an open forum for the development of the predominant Web content technology, W3C today invites browser vendors, application developers, and content designers to help design the next version of HTML by participating in the new W3C HTML Working Group. Based on significant input from the design and developer communities within and outside the W3C Membership, W3C has chartered the group to conduct its work in public and to solicit broad participation from W3C Members and non-Members alike.

"HTML started simply, with structured markup, no licensing requirements, and the ability to link to anything. More than anything, this simplicity and openness has led to its tremendous and continued success," explained Tim Berners-Lee, W3C director and inventor of HTML. "It's time to revisit the standard and see what we can do to meet the current community needs, and to do so effectively with commitments from browser manufacturers in a visible and open way."

Good on ya W3C!

5 Comments

W^L+
2007-03-08 23:24:44

Are they going to work with WHATWG on this? They are working on their own version of HTML 5/XHTML 5, so the prospect of two different HTML 5 standards sounds like another spat about to break out.

M. David Peterson
2007-03-08 23:50:15

@W^L+,

>> Are they going to work with WHATWG on this?

Absolutely no clue. The fact that the WHATWG members would be free to join the WG efforts suggests that there is at least a doorway for them to enter. Will they?

>> They are working on their own version of HTML 5/XHTML 5, so the prospect of two different HTML 5 standards sounds like another spat about to break out.

It most certainly does. That said, having watched and read and listened to what the members of the WHATWG have had to say in the past, my guess is that if they were to feel like their efforts were to be better served @ the W3C, and furthermore, their existing work blended into the new WG spec, then it wouldn't surprise me to see them decide to make the move.

In other words, the WHATWG are *ALL* about interop between browser manufacturers. From my perspective, politics seem to have little to no relevance both in and on their agenda. The folks behind the WHATWG are *REALLY* good folks. Whichever decision they make, I believe it will be the right one.

Rick Jellife
2007-03-09 01:47:46

I think this is really promising. The WhatWG material will undoubtedly be the prime inputs for consideration. It would be nice if the WG had its minutes published in the open, given the public interest.

M. David Peterson
2007-03-09 02:00:14

@Rick,

>> I think this is really promising.

Completely agree, without a doubt!

>> The WhatWG material will undoubtedly be the prime inputs for consideration.

I'm glad to hear you feel this way. I think it's obvious their work has *MAJOR* and significant value moving forward as the foundation of the WG.

>> It would be nice if the WG had its minutes published in the open, given the public interest.

Agreed. Obviously the minutes are different, but via http://www.w3.org/html/wg/

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